Thursday, February 21, 2008

Yet another meat recall this time because the processors were slaughtering downer cows. A downer cows is a cow that can’t walk and may have bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) – also known as Mad Cow Disease, or maybe some other disease. Westland Meat Packing Company voluntarily recalled 143 million pounds of meat, one of the largest recalls to date. Only voluntarily because the government does not have the power to mandate a recall! This particular meat supplier was named Supplier of the Year for 2004-2005 to the National School Lunch Program. Here is a link to the video, http://video.hsus.org/?fr_story=b2dfefe0f02221333c5fb942f4879218cf9448e6&rf=bm&source=gaba89. If you buy your meat from anyone but a local farmer whose farm you have visited you MUST watch this. I do blame the government for allowing this to happen it is supposed to be their job to make sure meat that the public consumes is safe BUT I also blame those that buy meat from large processing plants if you buy your meat from a grocery store this is you! Is the money that you think you are saving by buying from the grocery store worth the lives of these animals? Even if you buy from a local butcher your meat may not be safe. I am proud that Chuck and I have taken a stance on eating meat that only comes from local producers. Our money does not go into the pockets of the government nor people who treat the food we eat with so little respect.